FLOOR SAFETY A SAFE APPROACH


Entrance flooring can play a significant role in upholding a smart, healthy interior environment. Andy Moul, Technical Manager at specialist building product manufacturer, Construction Specialties (CS) discusses.


An effective entrance matting system can prevent up to 95% of dirt entering a building, which not only improves interior hygiene and reduces maintenance costs, it also reduces the risk of slip, trip and fall injuries caused by flooring contaminated with imported rainwater or slush from melted snow and ice.


In terms of legislative compliance, BS 8300-2:2018: the code of practice which relates to the design and accessibility of buildings states, that as a minimum, a flooring system should be installed at the entrance to commercial and public buildings. It also recommends reception areas have a firm, slip-resistant surface, whilst ingress of soil and moisture to buildings should be reduced ‘to the lowest practicable level’ through the use of ‘appropriate entrance flooring systems’.


BS 8300-2:2018 recommends entrances to commercial and public buildings are fitted with matting that is a minimum of two metres in traffic direction, which is a distance required to accommodate the circumference of a large wheelchair wheel. In terms of an optimum length, the Health and Safety Laboratory (an agency of the Health and Safety Executive) suggests six metres of entrance matting as adequate for most buildings.


ZONAL APPROACH When it comes to design, most manufacturers


advocate a three-zone approach for effective entrance matting performance, with each of the zones performing a different function.


For zone one, the exterior entrance flooring located immediately outside or inside the building, selected products should be free-draining and provide effective scraping action to remove dirt, mud and moisture from entering the building. Aluminium, stainless steel, PVC or rubber matting products can be used,


and where excess water is a hazard due to a lack of an entrance canopy for example, drainage should be incorporated in a matwell base.


Zone two, the primary entrance flooring, is designed to remove and collect dirt and moisture inside the building. Closed construction products, incorporating recesses deep enough for dirt collection between cleaning intervals, work best in this area. Open construction systems are an option, but matwell needs to be cleaned regularly, so systems which roll up for ease of cleaning are preferred. Stainless steel or aluminium grid systems, aluminium rail systems or PVC tiles, which incorporate textile or other absorbent materials, are ideal product choices for the primary entrance area.


Zone three, the ‘clean-off zone’ situated in reception and circulation areas, completes the cleaning and drying process. This matting, which is generally in textile roll or tile format, is often the most economical to use. Products designated as Class 33 heavy contract should be favoured to ensure effective, long-term performance. Laid in a recessed matwell or surface-mounted using appropriate edging, clean- off zone products are also suitable for preventing dirt transference from soiled to clean areas within the building e.g. from a factory to an office.


Where heavy trolleys or wheeled equipment will be traversing the entrance, ensure the selected matting is able to withstand the load. This information is usually provided by manufacturers in the form of rolling load testing data, point loads or duty rating recommendations, but it should always be qualified by testing.


When selecting an entrance matting system, end-user requirements should be taken into consideration.


BS 7953 provides recommendations for the selection, planning, installation and maintenance of interior and exterior entrance flooring. It stipulates that systems should be high performing in terms of removal and retention of soil and moisture. Additionally, they should be durable, easy to maintain, and keep their ‘as new’ appearance for years to come.


Entrance floor matting is not only essential to businesses keeping up appearances, however. If well designed and expertly installed, it is crucial to upholding health and safety standards, reducing accidents and minimising costly repairs. Therefore, quality entrance matting is a floored-strategy worth investing in.


www.c-sgroup.co.uk 36 www.tomorrowshs.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48